My old pocket watch

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Thought that some in here may be interested in my old pocket watch which I purchased for £3
back in around 1972. It was not in working order at the time so I put it in the drawer for a few years.
Found a horologist who was able to service it and replace the fusee chain, it ticked away happily
for a few years and went back into its draw. Resurrected it no longer works, I suspect a simple clean and service will see it working again.
I believe that the case, both inner and outer are not original but I have managed to find out that the watch dates from c1780.
Watch maker : Henry Britan of Norwich.
Watchmakers paper in the case for a service back in 1880 by Thomas Bourn.
Apologise for poor images.

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[NDA]

I still find it amazing that watch mechanisms could be made in the 1700's without any of the technology needed today. A lovely thing to own.

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Thank you, I find the back plate engraving and fusee chain to be incredible workmanship in the day when it was all genuinely hand made. The dial glass has a flat spot in the middle, I was informed that placing the watch upside down (bedtime) on the face helped it keep good time? I’m doubtful of that.

[NDA]

crankedup said:

I was informed that placing the watch upside down (bedtime) on the face helped it keep good time? I’m doubtful of that.

Quite true.... 'self regulation' is a thing and works very well.

Dial up increases the speed, dial down slows it. It has to be said that not all watches respond, but most do. There is also crown up or crown down (i.e. watch on it's side) will also speed up and slow down, but less rapidly.

My (brand new) Rolex is 2 seconds a day slow - but left dial up overnight it comes back to zero by the morning... maybe a second fast. I have not adjusted it since maybe September last year and it's currently 11 seconds fast.

Yep, get a life.... get out more.... etc. But it amuses me with hacking movements to see how accurate they can be.

Your ancient pocket watch may respond to self regulation, but probably an immeasurable amount in the scale of it's inherent accuracy.


ETA, yes, that fusee chain will have been made firstly without the benefit of electric lighting or the benefit of the microscopic tools we have today. Pretty amazing!

Edited by NDA on Thursday 18th March 14:34

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Well blow me down I certainly didn’t know about the regulation detail, amazing stuff thanks. Another day and pleased to have learnt something.
The watch itself is not of any significant value, being a marriage with the casing, I expect if I sold it the buyer would use it for spare parts.

[NDA]

Your watch is a mini masterpiece - never sell! It's so lovely to own such a thing.

Rolex used to send this card out with it's watches - along with the advice that the watch box could be readily adapted into a cigarette case.

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Can’t bear the thought of it being stripped down for parts, I will give it to our lad to look after with the instruction it goes to our grandson in due course.
I’m a little surprised that the watch didn’t provoke more interest in here tbh. These oldies are an important part of the ‘art of watch making’ imo. As you mentioned, how the heck they managed to make such intricate items is staggering when thought about.

[NDA]

It's just you and me kiddo!

If you have any interest in how watches are made, then something from the 1700's, no matter what quality, is frankly a bit mind boggling. They were extraordinary achievements in micro engineering.

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Seems that way now I am in awe of the engraving work on the back plates of my and many other pocket watches. Quite how a craftsman could manage such work during the 1700’s is staggering. And then the pierce work, so fine.
Now it’s all computer controlled I suppose with a few hours on hand assembly to create a master piece. That’s my cynical side coming out.